Star Lotulelei Jersey | Forum

The Oakland Raiders have officially signed free agent
linebacker Derrick Johnson to a one-year contract.

Coach Jon Gruden had said last week the sides agreed to terms and the
contract became official on Monday. Oakland waived defensive back Darius Hillary
to make room on the roster.

The Raiders also signed three players following tryouts at rookie minicamp
over the weekend. Oakland gave deals to former Texas running back Chris
Warren Star
Lotulelei Jersey , Michigan fullback Henry Poggi and tight end Paul
Butler from California of Pennsylvania.

Oakland cut running back Elijah Hood, defensive lineman Joby Saint Fleur and
fullback Nick Sharga. Hood was a seventh-round pick last year and played one
game as a rookie.

The 35-year-old Johnson spent his first 13 NFL seasons with the rival Kansas
City Chiefs and will likely fill the role at middle linebacker that NaVorro
Bowman played the second half of last season.

Johnson is a four-time Pro Bowler and the career tackles leader for the
Chiefs. He appeared in 182 games with 169 starts since being drafted in the
first round in 2005. He has 1,262 tackles, 27陆 sacks and 14 interceptions in his
career.

When general manager Brian Gutekunst spoke on Sunday afternoon about
his first cutdown as general manager, he described the Green Bay Packers' roster
as "fluid."

He wasn't kidding.

Gutekunst continued tweaking the 53-man roster on Monday, adding running back
Darius Jackson off the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad and signing linebacker
Korey Toomer. Those are an effort to fill two obvious needs in advance of the
team's regular-season opener Sunday night against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau
Field.

"It took a little longer than normal," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said
following the team's first post-training camp practice. "We had a lot of
movement there on Saturday into Sunday, (and) we were juggling things. .
Obviously Marshal Yanda
Jersey , I think our transactions reflect that. So, it's been a
long weekend. (But) we feel really good about the 63 players (including the
practice squad) in our locker room and we'll move forward getting ready for the
Bears."

To make room for Toomer, the Packers placed wide receiver Jake Kumerow on
injured reserve. By having Kumerow, a Wisconsin-Whitewater alum who was the star
of training camp earlier this summer, on the 53-man roster for a day, he is now
eligible to return from IR later this season. NFL rules allow each team to bring
a maximum of two players back from IR later in the season.

Kumerow injured his shoulder while crossing the goal line on an 82-yard
touchdown Aug. 16 against Pittsburgh.

To accommodate Jackson, the Packers waived cornerback Herb Waters one day
after he'd made the initial roster.

Before adding Jackson, a 2016 sixth-round pick from Eastern Michigan who has
spent time with the Cowboys and Browns but has never played in an NFL
regular-season game http://www.indianapoliscoltsteamonline.com/al-woods-jersey ,
the Packers had only two running backs: second-year back Jamaal Williams, who is
set to be the starter, and converted wide receiver Ty Montgomery. Aaron Jones,
the team's most explosive running threat last season, will miss the first two
weeks because of an NFL suspension for violating the league's substance abuse
policy.

The Packers had four other running backs at the end of camp, but the team
released Joel Bouagnon, LeShun Daniels and Bronson Hill, and waived/injured
Devante Mays. Both fullbacks http://www.greenbaypackersteamonline.com/jimmy-graham-jersey ,
Aaron Ripkowski and Joe Kerridge, were also released on the final cutdown.
Bouagnon and Kerridge were re-signed to the practice squad Sunday.

McCarthy has said for years he doesn't like going into games with just two
active running backs, but that could be the case against the Bears because
Jackson didn't arrive at the facility in time to participate in Monday's
practice.

"I think those guys are ready to go," McCarthy said of Williams and
Montgomery. "They're healthy, they give us an excellent 1-2 punch. So, I'm not
concerned about that at all."

Said Williams: "I'm just grateful for any opportunity, and these are the
opportunities you want - to get more carries and more responsibility in the
offense. Really, you take it for what it is and not take it for granted. I'm
doing everything I can to make sure the coaches know I'm going to keep producing
at a consistent rate."

It's unclear what the Packers will have at inside linebacker alongside
veteran Blake Martinez Brandon
Williams Jersey , who tied for the NFL lead in tackles last season.
Third-round pick Oren Burks, who sustained a shoulder injury during pregame
warmups at Oakland on Aug. 24, was with the rehabilitation group at practice and
may not be ready for the Bears.

Gutekunst acquired Antonio Morrison in a trade with Indianapolis last week,
and he or Toomer could start if Burks isn't cleared. Toomer, in his fifth
season, has played 46 games (16 starts) and was in camp with the 49ers before
being cut Saturday.

"This is always the big challenge when you get to that spot of finishing your
53," McCarthy admitted. "We've had a lot of change. And that's always the
challenge.

"But we're set and ready to go with all our guys and we're looking forward to
the week of preparation."